Aligarh Muslim University Suspends Gay Professor
Dr. Shrinivas Ramachandra Siras (reader Modern Indian Languages) at Aligarh Muslim University was suspended by the University for being a homosexual. Dr. Shrinivas has a PhD in Marathi and specializes in comparative Indian literature, modern Marathi fiction, short story and modern Marathi poetry.
According to AMU public relations officer Rahat Abrar “Dr Siras lived in a house allotted to him in the medical colony on the AMU campus. On February 8, he was home in the company of a young rickshaw-puller from Jamalpur area of the town. Since the door was open, two reporters from a local TV channel barged into the house and filmed him and his companion. The video clippings were then sent to AMU authorities who were constrained to proceed against Siras”. Incidents like this worry me a lot because it highlights how far behind we are in understanding basic human rights and an individual’s right to privacy.
According to AMU website the goal of the “Department of Modern Indian Languages” is to “make learners understand and appreciate other languages, literature and culture that lead to understand cultures of different people to uphold the secular fabric of our nation that strengthens the bond of national integration”. This goal completely sounds disingenuous because before you can talk about lofty ideas like “understanding different cultures” and “strengthening national integration” we should first learn to respect each other as human beings irrespective of race, religion, culture, caste or sexual orientation.
The university and the department in essence wants its students to understand the Telegu, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi and Punjabi culture and people as long as they are not gay!! What kind of department is this? Is AMU an institution of higher learning or another institution with a conservative social agenda?
It is shocking when you consider that reporters entered a private residence and started video taping without the consent of the owner of the house. At a very minimum this is trespassing and invasion of privacy and therefore are criminal activities. The only crime that was committed was not by the professor but by the reporters.
The university charged the professor with “gross misconduct” and suspended him. So is any form of sex that is not straight sex a gross misconduct? The university has over 28,000 students and faculty. What type of message is the university sending to the students and faculty some of whom could be gay? The university unfortunately lost an opportunity to educate and inform its students. It took the easy way out which is not surprising.
The Aligarh Muslim University was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Sir Syed as he was commonly known as was a politician and educator. He was also an Islamic reformer and once said “The rule of the former emporors and rajas was neither in accordance with the Hindu nor the Mohammadan religion. It was based on nothing but tyranny and oppression; the law of might was that of right; the voice of the people was not listened to”. I wish he was alive to see the university that he founded end the career of an distinguished individual just because he was gay.
UPDATE (04/07/10): Several news agencies are reporting that Professor Siras has passed away in an apparent suicide. Only last week Allahabad High Court revoked his suspension and ordered his reinstatement. I am deeply saddened by his death.
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Category: Culture & Religion
Basically suspension of Prof Siras is an attempt on the part of corruption tainted Dr P K Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University and former VC, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) to divert attention away from the ongoing fact finding inquiry ordered by the Hon’ble President of India to probe allegation of large scale corruption against Dr Azis, VC. All talk if students entering the home of Prof Siras are lies. No student of AMU has the guts to enter the residence of teacher with a camera. And no teacher is that fool that he would allow people to film him while he is having consensual sex. In fact, the AMU administration itself appears to be deeply involved in this episode. It is mainly driven by departmental and university politics. A high powered probe would unravel that people close to the person who has been handed over the charge of Chairman (who is a close confidante of Dr Azis) after unlawful suspension of Prof Siras were involved.
Even the report of Principal Accountant General (Audit), Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, sent vide AB(C) 09-10/249 dt. 17.11.2009 to Ministry of HRD acknowledges in unequivocal terms the financial irregularities in the university and charges the VC too of indulging in financial irregularity and contains “There is a complete collapse of financial management in the university and the VC [Dr P K Abdul Azis] and the Registrar [Prof. V K Abdul Jaleel] instead of stopping this frequent financial irregularity themselves became a part of this,”.
The report relating to tenure of Dr Azis as VC of CUSAT and submitted by Finance Inspection Wing of Government of Kerala sent by the Principal Secretary to Government to The Registrar, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi, vide No. 11244/B2/08/H.Edn dt. 25.04.2008 again clearly mention that “Strict disciplinary action should be initiated against the VC, Dr P. K. Abdul Aziz for his lapses”.
So poor Prof Siras has been made a scapegoat. His suspension is totally illegal and part of diversionary tactics being employed by cornered corruption tainted Dr Azis. The AMU authorities are giving contradictory statements. Sometimes they say students filmed the act while at other times it is the TV crew. Whatever may be the case, the police should immediately arrest those who trespassed and violated the privacy of Prof Siras. What bothers me is that Kapil Sibal is sitting tight and allowing a tainted person like Dr Azis to continue at AMU. He should have long been sacked and he is the person who has brought lot of disrepute to AMU and not innocent , simple and peace loving person like Prof Siras. All will vouch that till date Prof Siras has had no problem with anyone in AMU. And he was to retire in Sept ,2010.
Riaz Ahmad,
Welcome and thank you for taking the time to provide a detailed feedback.
I was wondering myself how students or cameramen can enter a professors house (it would be unimaginable in most universities). I am really hoping that a through investigation is undertaken to make sure that Prof Siras rights are protected. What has happened so far is a joke and a travesty of justice.
Will anyone conduct a court of enquiry in this case or will we shroud it under religion? it’s so easy no?
Welcome Namya,
There will be some soft of an inquiry but it will just be an eye wash. The damage has been done to the reputation of the professor. I still cannot believe that this happened.
As far as an inquiry is concerned, they’re just going to take it real slow cause prof Siras is anyways going to retire in 7 1/2 months. The only way this can be rectified and the prof re-instated is if all colleges strike so that someone takes action, or else there’s nothing to look forward to. Firstly, someone needs to jail the trespassers, so if that still hasn’t been done, there’s no justice at the end of this one. It’s appalling.
Welcome and thank you for commenting.
Based on the few articles that I read the professor himself does not want to come back. But the university should be held accountable no matter what. The “journalists”/students who set up the sting should be charged with criminal activity.
This is so shameless of any university let alone a highly recognized Central University like AMU. First, being gay is not a crime. How can someone be persecuted on moral issues? That’s completely ridiculous.
In fact today sexual orientation is one of the dimensions in which protection is provided to the individual. Being a university with so many departments – psychology, medicine, law – are the caretakers so illiterate so as not to know that homosexuality is purely biological, that a person’s privacy is sacred and that law has legalized this?
Welcome Vikram.
You are absolutely correct. But the fact is there are still many in India who still think that homosexuality is against Indian “culture” and against nature and so on. There is a backlash against the university decision which is a good first step.
BEFORE THE A.M.U. FACT FINDING INQUIRY COMMITTEE
( Comprising of Mr. Justice Fakhruddin and Mr. A.H.Jung )
Subject : Proposed meeting of the committee on 5/6-9-09
Sir,
With reference to our telephonic conversation with the Hon’ble Chairman of
the Committee in the night of 2nd September, 2009, we beg to submit as under :-
1-That we have not yet been supplied even the copy of the University’s reply to
the notice dated 20th April, 2009 which is referred in paras 6/8 of the Inquiry
Order issued by the Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India circulated alongwith the
committee’s notice dated 9-8-2009.
2-That in this respect an application dated 20-8-2009 was also moved before the
Committee by 7 members of the E.C. which was read out by the Committee’s
Secretary and detailed discussion was also held thereon and ultimately the
Chairman had directed Mr. Ejaz Maqbool, Advocate to ensure that all the
documents which had not been supplied till then, as referred in the application
dated 20-8-09 as well as those mentioned during the course of proceedings of the
committee, be supplied to us at the earliest so that we may submit our
response/affidavits etc. by 27-8-09.
3-That it is surprising that even thereafter no documents were supplied to us till
date and even the copy of the minutes of the proceedings dated 20-8-09 have not
been communicated to us so far. This shows the defiant attitude of the Vice
Chancellor and the Registrar as well as helplessness of the Inquiry Committee
against them although this sort of non cooperation of the V.C. and the Registrar
with the committee is manifestly with the object of hampering the inquiry and
creating hurdles in the conclusion of the Inquiry within 3 months as desired by the
Honble Visitor. Non issuance of any positive and strict order by the Inquiry
Committee in this respect is also surprising and unexpected.
4-That after coming to know about the proposed date of next meeting of the
committee through one of us (Mr. Waseem Ahmad) this evening, we had
informed the Hon’ble Chairman about the aforesaid facts and we had requested
him to postpone the date of 5/6th September as we will not be able to contribute
any new thing without getting the documents supplied by the University to the
Hon’ble Visitor, referred to above but as we feel that the Hon’ble Chairman has
not been able to appreciate fully about the documents required by us, we are
reiterating about the same in this application.From our telephonic conversation
with the Hon’ble Chairman, we have gathered the impression that the aforesaid
Reply of the University referred in para 8 of the Inquiry order, referred to above,
does not appear to have been supplied to the Inquiry Committee also, so far and in
any case the Hon’ble Chairman of the Committee has not yet perused the same.
-2-
5-That as the Hon’ble Chairman was pleased to observe during his telephonic
conversation yesterday night i.e. in the night of 2nd September that notice of the
proposed meeting of 5/6 th September was in the process of being issued, we
consider it our duty to apprise the Hon’ble Committee about the reasons of our
non participation in the said meeting proposed to be held on 5/6 September.
6-That apart from the reasons mentioned above, we may further inform the
committee that copies of documents which might have been filed before the
Committee by the Vice Chancellor, Registrar or Dr.Mujahid Beg etc. have also
not been supplied to us so far and in the absence of the same we are quite unable
to know about the stand of the Vice Chancellor and Dr. Mujahid Beg etc. and
being totally unaware about the same how can we make any submissions before
the committee on the proposed date of 5/6 September, 2009.
7-That in view of the facts and circumstances stated above it would be a futile
exercise to hold the sitting of the committee on 5/6 September, 2009 and if such a
sitting is held, we may be justified in forming an impression that as if the
Committee is not interested in giving us a reasonable opportunity to assist the
committee in proving the charges levelled by us in our representation submitted to
the HRD Minister on 28-3-2009.
8-That before holding any sitting of the Inquiry Committee, it must be ensured by
the Committee that all the required documents have been supplied to us and
information of any date may kindly be communicated to us at least 7 days in
advance so that we may make ourselves available to assist the Inquiry Committee.
In case the Committee agrees to hold the sitting on 12/13 th September, the
required documents should be made available to us latest by 7th September, 2009
so that we may assist the committee on 12/13th September, if fixed by the
committee.
It is, therefore, respectfully submitted that the proposed date of the
committee sitting for 5/6 th September, 2009 may kindly be postponed for 12/13th
September and the required documents may kindly be supplied to us latest by 7th
September, 2009 alongwith the proceedings of 20th August. The information
about the next date may also kindly be supplied to us at the earliest.
Lucknow : Dated (Prof. Mansoor Hasan) (Wasim Ahmad) (Zafaryab Jilani)
September 3,2009 Members of the Executive Council of A.M.U.
Copies Forwarded to :-
1-Hon’ble President of India / Visitor of AMU, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi
2-Hon’ble Minister of HRD, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Welcome Thomas and thank you for the detailed feedback.
When I wrote the article I was not aware of some of the politics. But feedback from you and others are pointing to various other factors that might have contributed to this incident. It is clear that the professors rights were violated and he was not given a fair opportunity. Those who did this should be brought to justice.
WHY AZIS DID NOT RENT A HOUSE ?
When the VC’s (Dr. P.K. Abdul Azis’s) house was gutted partially by students, he did not rent a house outside the campus. He was sharing the accommodation (PVC’s lodge) used by the Registrar (Dr. Jaleel). Nobody went there with camera. Who knows what happened there ? I really doubt the reason for VC not rentinig a place outside the campus. If the TV crew was sent to the teacher’s house by the VC, it is a very bad act. HOW come the TV crew or those who sent them there knew that prof was a gay ? former partners ? All over the world the gay and lesbians are recognised and even such marriages are legalised. Instead of resorting to these type of attention diveritng and distoring fact stunts let Dr. Azis show courage, if he have any, to prove that he is innocent. He is not innocent and only trained liars and looters resort to dirty games. STEP DOWN AND LEAVE MAN, INSTEAD OF TARNISHING THE IMAGE OF THE UNNIVERSITY BUILT OVER YEARS BY GOOD PEOPLE.
I hope this incident is not sidelined. I feel bad to say this, but this could be used to bring a new law to protect LGBT community at work place and elsewhere.
Welcome Moulee.
I am believer that we can always take something positive out of a situation that looks really bad on the surface. The “outing” of the professor has had an effect that the University was not counting on. Even people who are against rights for LGBT community understand that the professor was wronged and his freedom and privacy were violated and his reputation tarnished for no apparent reason.
Now the AMU administration says that it does not have the video clip!! Why was the Prof suspended and defamed by AMU??
As I get more info, shall share!
Great information. Thank you Riaz. Looking forward to your updates.
In a meeting (dt. 25.02.2010) of senior teachers including Deans of Faculties in AMU, Dr A Azis who has increasingly shown streaks of muslim fundamentalism, openly warned the Deans to come over to his side and not utter a single word that contradicts his version of events relating to Prof Siras. He reprimanded Prof. Ashraf Malik, Principal, J N Medical College of AMU for terming the Siras affair as a case of invasion of privacy during an interview on BBC. When remided by Prof. Mehdi Abbas Rizvi, Dean, Faculty of Engg & Technology, another sane voice amongst the senior teachers in AMU, that legal dimensions of the case need to be looked into, again Dr Azis rudely silenced him saying that we cannot stop the media/TV crew from filming such incidents even if they happen in the private homes of teachers and that in AMU it is the VC who decides what is “LEGAL” and “ILLEGAL”!
Note: In my next post I will share the contents of the funny and hilarious JOINT complaint (without any evidence) filed by two close aides of Dr Azis, VC, AMU, against Prof Siras on the basis of which the poor man as suspended. It will further clear the air and demonstrate that it was a total frame-up by the AMU administration.
The plot is thickening :)
Extracts of exploits of Dr Azis, AMU, VC, taken from latest issue of Outlook: “These Walls Have Ears: A profligate V-C, a homophobic row, crime and surveillance—all facets of the AMU syndrome”, (Issue: March 8, 2010)are reproduced below:
===============
Azis, vice-chancellor since June ’07, is himself at the centre of some turmoil. He is now the subject of an inquiry set up by the President of India after instances of financial bungling were reported by members of the university’s executive council. She appointed a second panel last month after the first committee’s members resigned last year reportedly due to lack of cooperation in the probe.
The list of charges is long: claiming travelling allowance against university rules, paying his income tax from the varsity fund, bringing in furniture worth several lakhs from Kerala (Azis’s home state) and paying another Rs 12 lakh for its transport, spending close to Rs 2 crore to refurbish the V-C’s residence (including installation of jacuzzis in the bathrooms), buying a Honda Civic despite the availability of two cars, and adopting improper tendering practices, causing losses of millions to the varsity. The principal auditor general of UP has established several of these charges and in a despatch in November ’09 says: “There’s a complete collapse of financial management and the VC and registrar, instead of stopping this frequent financial irregularity, themselves became part of it.”
For an update on the Prof Siras affair pl read the recent article published in Tehelka Magazine
—————————————–
“Before Night Falls”
What is more embarrassing for AMU— gay love or violation of human rights?
NISHA SUSAN
WHEN SECTION 377 of the Indian Penal Code was read down last year, decriminalising homosexuallity in India, confetti flew. Even those who felt the law had little relevance in the daily lives of the LGBT community in India smiled a bit. Less than a year later, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) professor Shrinivas Ramachandra Siras, a Marathi scholar, has been suspended for alleged homosexual activity. The university says they have a video recording of the professor inside his home in sexual intercourse with a young rickshaw-puller. The university, clearly not a fan of that ancient sexual preference — ‘rough trade’ — termed this gross misconduct, taking care to emphasise the occupation of the professor’s alleged lover. Outrage against AMU has flown thick but the university is unembarrassed.
For more pl visit:
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main44.asp?filename=Ne060310proscons.asp
Gayism brings in a morality issue. But, now adays it is an accepted behaviour. Somewhere Dr. Azis has opined that his academic records has nothing to do with his Vice chancellor job. He says because of his ignorance – academic imcompetence. Academic brilliance is the prime requirement for a Vice Chancellor. One who keep on committing one fraud after another will not be able to understand such things.
Welcome and thank you for your feedback Thomas.
Even after the decriminalisation of consensual homosexuality under sec 377 of IPC by the Delhi high court India is not welcoming this progressive law..If as a humanbeing we r aware of our human and fundamental rights then y we shud know the minority community of LGBT only by their sexual orientation and not identify them as persons..expeling from job only on the ground of being gay is really inhuman treatment…
Welcome.
There is no question that India is lagging behind when it comes to LGBT rights. The university clearly has set a bad example.
In one of my previous postings, I had referred to “The Expenditure Audit Report” was sent to AMU vide AB (C) 09-10/248 dt. 17.11.2009 by Office of Principal Accountant General (Audit), UP, Allahabad. The relevant extract of the report is available at http://www.amutimes.blogspot.com.
In all probability the AMU administration set up Dr Siras to divert attention from this damning report and the probe ordered by the President of India into the affairs affairs at AMU. The report clearly indicts the AMU administration including the Vice Chacellor P K Abdul Azis and Registrar V K Abdul Jaleel for causing financial loss to the tune of Crores of public money.
Thank you for the update Riaz.
THIS IS THE NASTY CASE OF COMMUNALISM BACKED BY CENTRAL GOVT. pROF. DR. SIRSA IS HIND (THOUGH HE IS NOT RETUALISTIC ) AND TO COVER UP SO MANY HENIOUS ILLIGAL THING VP PLOTTED DR. SIRSA
This type of insultation will repeat in future also by the orthodox (evil of the society)unless the whole gay community protest strongly. It was a preplanned. The crew cameraman etc. are tresspassers. A suitable case could have been filed against them. They should be condemned by all the broad minded people of the world. They must know gay practice was not sin, nor now.
Welcome Ronn. I agree with everything you say. Recently a professor from IIT was dismissed for being openly gay.
I highly loathe the nincompoop authorities for doing this to the professor.
If only the gay male community were to get just a little stronger, all the unscrupulous bastard homophobic pipsqueaks on this earth should go down flat on their faces like ninepins, the beasts.
Why couldn’t society let live and let be? Isn’t it a nasty black sheep in itself?
Welcome,
This is actually a very sad story. India can be very tough and at the same time so giving. I definitely see progress. One has to be patient and at the same time not have the anger and hatred towards the opposition as they have towards the gay community.
I have been totally shocked and appalled by what was done unto the poor old professor, who is innocent, pure and straightforward; and probably näive too, since he was quite unaware of the concoction against him and taken unawares by the cameramen, whosoever they were – whether reporters or students. I am outraged, indignant, and irked by the so-called university for committing such an abhorrent crime against humanity as ousting someone from office: just for the so-called unjustified, unscrupulous reason of theirs of his being GAY! Just for being gay! Just for that! Just that! How now? How inhuman! Aren’t they cruel, the beasts? What is with these creatures? They must be creatures, since there is no saying they may be humans, for they lack humanity. What Mephistophelean ‘uns they are, letting other homophobic *** like them indulging in Schadenfreude too. I recall the Amazing Wonder, the Truly Great Michael (Joe) Jackson’s number ‘They Don’t Care about us’. NB his lines: ‘Skinhead, deadhead
Everybody gone bad
Situation, segregation
Everybody allegation
In the suite, on the news
Everybody dog-food
Kick me, strike me
Don’t you wrong or right me
(Refrain)…’. Small wonder he wrote the song. I feel the same for the professor.
The society really is callous.
There came about such developments much as the law being the hurdle was abrogated by the high court’s ruling. It shows backwardness, or rather, LACK of human taste and culture. If the damned society is to regard same-sex sex as aberrant, how come does not the same not half regard as the same, sex between brother and sister etc., to say nothing of that for parents, as is much clear by this being that upon which most of the Indian swear words, which comprise eighty-percent of the language of the Indian hoi polloi, are ever based. Anyway, whether that or not, the homophobic society shall not, by way of any condemnation of gays, be able to hurt them or anything; or come by its such goals, for all its courses should be abortive; and thereupon, shall not be able to withhold or withstand gay ire. There should be made cris de coeur vehemently against any negative issues about gays. HIP HIP HURRAY FOR THE MALE PINK KINGDOM!!!
The best way to express our outrage is to write to Prof. P K Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor (VC) of Aligarh Muslim University who and his team hounded Prof Siras. Email IDs of the VC are
vcamu@amu.ac.in
vcamu@sancharnet.in
Regards
Riaz